Faridoon Shahryar's Blog

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Karan Johar will be launching the first look promo of 'Student Of The Year' at an event in Bombay on August 2. Shahrukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment is the co producer but there's no clarity if Shahrukh will be present at the event. I've always maintained 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' is Karan Johar's most loveable film. He has tried to go out of his comfort zone and made other kinds of films but he is a natural at presenting bubble gum romance with all the trappings of dream pink balloons, draped-in-mush music, handkerchief friendly tears and the classic mellodrama. I don't know if Student Of The Year finds him back in his familiar groove but I really hope it does. I would surely cheer for it provided the promos promise the unbelievable love and No realism.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Faridoon Shahryar (FS): We finally have PoojaBhatt after a lot of chase. She’s coming up with a hot film jiske baare mein buzz bhi bahut hot hai – ‘Jism 2’! Huge pleasure to have you back on Bollywood Hungama!

PoojaBhatt (PB): Pleasure to be back with you Faridoon finally and I am sorry to have given you such a long chase. Hope it would be worth it, just like how all our interviews are eventually!

FS: You made this statement recently that “Women have their own fantasies about they would like to be wooed and made love to”. Would you like to elaborate? In the same interview, aapne yeh bhi bola hai ki ‘Ram Gopal Varma told you should think from a male perspective’…

PB: Basically, what I was trying to say is that ye jo film industry hai, right from the board room that you go to where you try to sell your idea, there are generally a male board that decides ki yeh jo idea hai, woh appealing hai ya nahi hai. Aur kiske liye appealing hai? Generally, for a male audience. So you are looking through sensuality in Hindi films largely through a male perspective. You have the classic item song in most films today, where the lines between the vamp and the heroines have merged considerably. There was a time when a heroine would not be doing a song standing on a stage surrounded by 500 men who are lusting and groping her. In today’s age, it’s considered a very funky thing to do. Children dance to those songs and everyone’s having a great time. I am happy for everybody who’s involved in them. But that’s not really my gaze. I am tired of seeing woman constantly as a male play thing. What made ‘Jism’ earth-shattering, forward and a game changer in 2003 was when you had a lady called Bipasha Basu who played the character of Sonia who actually tells the hero in the end that ‘Ye jism pyaar karna nahi jaanta. Jaanta hai to sirf bhookh…jism ki bhookh’! And he asks, ‘You didn’t love me even for a second?’. She replies, ‘Not even for a second. I shamelessly utilized you!”. So she was a woman who had no qualms. And that shook things up because a woman said that it’s my body and it feels lusted and doesn’t have any iota of guilt in it. And that was a game changer and not the fact whether she showed skin or there was a love scene. ‘Jism’ in today’s age is extremely tame in terms of skin show and sensuality. But it had an inherently bold theme and that’s what makes the product bold or not bold, conventional or unconventional. For me, sex is not a bad word. My father told me that ‘Pooja, in Hindi films, bad people have sex while good people fall in love!’. But that’s changing considerably I think.

We had created a wonderful character in Sonia with Bipasha in ‘Jism’. That was a very tough act to follow. So we had to take a different route. We had to get into a new kind of woman. India needed a new fantasy and we needed to give you a combination of sensuality and vulnerability that was not there in Sonia. Sonia was hard and in control. Isna (Sunny Leone’s character in ‘Jism 2’) was not in control. Isna uses her body for profit. She’s aware of the kind of effect that her looks and persona has on people, especially men. She exploits that shamelessly but she’s vulnerable. She longs for love and is very traditional in that sense because she’s somebody who met this man, felt his great passion, got a taste of that and when he was gone, spent the entire life trying to replicate that taste. So we are talking about anguish, belonging, erotica…very different from pornography.

FS: Absolutely. Before ‘Jism 2’ trailers were out, I admit that like many others, I too had apprehensions that ‘presentation kaisa hoga’ and all. But my thoughts changed as subsequent promos came out. Especially the song ‘Kasoor’ where Randeep is giving massage to Sunny, I think it’s a very sensuous scene. It’s not vulgar or cheap at all and presented beautifully.

PB: Well thank you but it’s the scene the censors had problem with!

FS: Also, primarily, it’s not only about male gaze because the way Randeep Hooda and Arunoday Singh have been presented, I am sure that women and even homosexuals will be looking forward to the film!

PB: There’s a saying that you don’t become a male icon until the gay men want you! And this is accepted worldwide. And that’s what I am trying to say that we see sexuality and sensuality through a male perspective. But ‘Jism 2’ is fiercely a female gaze where the attempt was to make the men look beautiful. I feel that why should we take only the heroines’ close up with a certain degree of care? I think that men need to be cast opposite each other like you cast a hero and heroine opposite each other. Hence, when I cast Randeep and Arunoday, I wanted two distinctly different types of men. And that combination is also making people look out for. It’s not only Sunny-Randeep and Sunny-Arunoday; it’s Arunoday-Randeep - the unusual men together – and you wonder what is gonna happen. And they look believable.

FS: Recently, ‘Hate Story’ makers came up with a bold promo that instilled a lot of expectations in the minds of the people. But when the movie came out, a lot of these scenes were diluted to a lot of extent. In that context, those who have seen ‘Jism 2’ promos and you have promised them that the erotic content will be there in whatever content that they are looking forward to, how would you be dealing with it? I believe the print is already out…

PB: The print is out and I have the got the CC (censor certificate) and that’s the day I announced that August 3 is the day that is locked. Strangely, a lot of rumours were floating around that the film is banned or that the censor certificate was denied. I was wondering where that was coming from. After all, a censor board cannot deny you a certificate, to begin with. They are meant to give ‘A’, ‘U/A’ or ‘U’ certificate .Aap uss certificate ko accept kar sakte hai ya nahi kar sakte hai is upto the filmmaker. When we went to the board, they congratulated me for the film and said that they would like me to reduce four particular scenes. One of them was the massage scene, where you can see Sunny’s breasts as well. Ironically, just two days before that, the front page of Bombay Times had a full page story of how the side cleavage has become so fashionable world over. So you don’t mind that coming into your living room but you have a problem in a cinema hall when an adult goes to watch that! Anyways, breasts or lack of it is not going to make or break my movie. Regarding the other three scenes, they requested me to reduce its length because they are long. They had no objection with anything per se and I was given the freedom to chop it as per my discretion. Now, I had two choices – one was to go to the revising committee and fight tooth and nail like a parent would fight for their child’s each strand of hair. But I thought that I should look at it at a larger perspective and try this edit. I’ll view it then with my core team and if it doesn’t dilute my story, sensuality and the inherent passion that is necessary between these people, then I’ll consider it. And honestly speaking, it made my edit far crisper and made the impact of the scene far greater because it took out the iota of awkwardness that anybody might feel. Even people who are open to an adult film might feel a certain degree of discomfort on occasion if they are watching an adult film with another adult probably who might be known to them. But after the edit, the length is actually quite right and yet, the impact is not diluted.

FS: You had plans of approaching Sunny Leone long time back, in ‘Jism’ part 1 I believe…

PB: Yes. We actually saw her photograph in India Today in 2002 and there was an article on her that she’s the first Indian to have broken into the world of adult entertainment. What struck me was her face and how cute and innocent it was! Hence, I thought that it would be interesting to get somebody who is bold enough to go against many norms and come from a background which is kind of supposedly conservative, i.e. an Indian background, and break into a world that people generally stay away from. We contacted her but her agent wrote back that she’s got other plans. Last year, before ‘Jism 2’ went on floors, when we were pulling our hair as to who do we cast for the film and at the same battling reports that Bipasha or Mallika have bagged the role, my husband suddenly reminded me of Sunny. I immediately called Dino (Morea, the co-producer) and asked whether he had heard of Sunny Leone. He replied in the negative. I told him to check out her pictures on the internet and then get back, also adding that he shouldn’t get shocked! After some time, he called me back and said ‘Pooja…I just saw it. She’s beautiful but NO”! I laughed and can understand where he’s coming from. 3 months later, she was on my television set thanks to Bigg Boss. I then had an emergency meeting with key people from my unit whose opinion matters. I said that what I’ve harping about something since the last 10 years is now finally come into my backyard. This is life knocking at your door that there’s destiny that each role has and this role has found its destiny. Dad being dad, he called makers of ‘Bigg Boss’ and asked as to how can we meet her. He then went on ‘Bigg Boss’ and the rest is, kind of, history. So there are so many firsts and I feel that when you are giving an industry and the world at large people’s debuts, then the people need to accept and look at it like you were look at a baby that’s just born. We don’t say that ‘ye bache ka naak tedha hai’ and ‘bache ke ye aisa hota’. Arre bacha hai yaar! It’s a baby – react to it. So ‘Jism 2’ is very flawed. It’s got lot of loopholes in the sense that the performances could had been slightly better or maybe worse..

FS: You have dubbed for Sunny?

PB: No I have not dubbed for Sunny because I didn’t had the time. I was upto my ears with post-production. Also, I didn’t want the topic of discussion to be ‘my voice and Sunny’s face’. I wanted to ensure that the film is seen neutrally by people. Lot of people know Sunny and there are some who don’t. A lot of people who have heard her voice and there are those who haven’t. So I thought it would be fair to present somebody as an actor with a neutral voice which people would believe is her’s.

FS: So who has dubbed for her?

PB: There’s a dubbing artiste Smita and she has done a wonderful job. The voice sounds right on Sunny’s face. She added so many nuances as well. Sunny learnt the dialogues like a champ. She got the lines out of her way and this is what I told her because once she does that, we can work on the nuances and performance. And she picked up the script like a student who went back to school and learnt the lines wonderfully!

"Sunny Leone Was A Great Casting Coup": Pooja Bhatt

FS: In the first part, we had Bipasha Basu who puts her leg around John Abraham while they are driving - the body language was a deciding factor and in ‘Jism 2’, the same can be seen in the body language of Randeep, Sunny and Arunoday. So can that be considered as one of the highlights of the film?

PB: Certainly. John and Bipasha shared an easy camaraderie because they were involved in a relationship back then. Once they were clear about the scenes to shoot, there was absolute trust from Bipasha as well as John. Same goes for ‘Jism 2’. Me and Randeep spent a lot of time discussing the character before. Once we were on the set, there was no room for any discussion. We approached Kabir through poetry, for example. Kabir, also, is an idealist and has got a kind of a world view that comes directly from my father which is a take on whether it is the war industry or a take on why the world is in a state that it is. He’s much bigger than the average cutout cardboard assassin that you see in Hindi films. You are going into the head of somebody who is an idealist, a patriot and why he does what he does. It’s not that you show 5 cars exploding to establish that he’s a terrorist. So we have chosen the intimate kind of route with every character. The reason we chose Sunny for Isna is because, there’s a voiceover in the beginning of the film ‘Mera naam Isna Hai. I am a porn star’ and you don’t have to establish that background and persona with Sunny. If I had somebody who is an established actor, then you would have to create scenes to establish what she does and how she does it. So this is where we casted organically and true to the film. As for songs, we had a tough act to follow since songs in Part 1 was melodious and soulful. M M Kreem, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated music directors. Of course, he has got its due. What a great album he gave me! We asked ourself, ‘Can we better that?’ We then decided that let’s not try to get an album together that would be better, technically or otherwise. Let’s just cast each song like you would cast a person. We had to find songs and we did that. ‘Adhoora’ for example was found even before we had a bound script because the movie began with the woman in that kind of state. We picked up OST (Original Sound Track) that might have released but they are apt for that situation and the film. So it’s an outdated way that for every film, you would record new songs.

FS: The response to the music has been great. How does that make you feel?

PB: Thrilled because that means that when your taste is what you go by, not by market dictates. When people respond with their hearts to the music that you have actually brought out with your heart, what can be more gratifying than that?

FS: You yourself have been an actress and some would say was far ahead of your time. You had no inhibition kissing on screen…

PB: I didn’t kiss that much on screen and even though I was not one who had a hot body, I actually wore a lot of swimsuits for photographs that most people didn’t in their films. Just the other day, I was joking that when we painted our body or wore swimsuits, we didn’t do it for profit in those days. It didn’t convert into wallpapers and downloads! We did it because it was a fun thing to do. We trusted the photographer while the magazine had a great concept. It was an annual coming out and we used to say ‘Hey! This seems aesthetic, fun and natural’. Hence, we did it. Today, when people ask me why you aren’t back in movies, I reply that I am a rather ordinary looking person. I fought battles with my weight all my life. I think I have a spirit that is irreplaceable and is probably on par with the most stunning bodies out there and that’s what people respond to. Eventually, that’s what makes or breaks somebody in terms of their appeal is you and not whether I have this hair or I have platinum blonde tomorrow. I was appalled with people going on about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan putting on weight! I mean, you have one of the world’s most beautiful women who have just given birth and even if she’d not given birth and decided to put on weight, how can you sit there and gloat about it? What is the point of discussion there?

FS: I agree and we never carried that because personally, we are on the same page. My question actually got diverted. Since you yourself have been an actress and have done magazine covers, as you said, and some of them have been controversial, it was way ahead of their times…

PB: This is because I spoke my mind and I lived my life according to my dictates. I had only my parents and God to whom I was answerable to. As long as my conscience is clear, I went out and lived my life – fully and unashamedly. That’s what is bold and not whether you are in a swimsuit or whether you curse. Eventually, people should equate the same thing to brand ‘Jism’ because it’s bold in terms of its concept and core idea. So it doesn’t really matter whether you have a love scene that is 1 ½ minute or for 3 minutes because that is when you don’t have a story and have to pick on these things. But when you have a concrete story and a world view, then everything else is just frivolity.

FS: The way you have designed the film and also the camerawork, lighting, top angle of the swimming pool…everything is beautiful. Do you apprehensions because of the sensuality and sexuality in the film, these elements will get diluted?

PB: Burai kyon hai? Warna main kyon banati? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with sensuality and that’s why I made ‘Jism’, ‘Jism 2’ and in future, ‘Jism 3’. I believe that people will be rather mortified to find out that they are actually going to forget what they are only harping on right now. The film is a story of the human heart in conflict with itself. It talks about the longing and the anguish that sexual encounters bring you. These are primarily adult feelings. It’s not frivolous ‘I-am-17-and-my-hormones-raging-and-I-want-to-go-out-and-do-something-about-that’ feelings. The characters are adults who are rather doomed with their interactions. You don’t see Hindi films touching upon the feelings of solitude that people feel after a sexual encounter. You probably feel lonelier when there’s a sexual encounter not backed by feeling. Even in ‘Jism’ part 1, John tries to gratify himself with endless sexual encounters, alcohol and whatever that came his way. In that way, it is unashamed but let me tell people that aap thoda shock ho jaayenge magar kahaani to unfortunately hai isme! To logon ko blinkers utaar ke uspe focus karna hi padega because they have no choice!

I met Ravi Kissen yesterday at the place where my final mix was happening. This is the first time I met him probably. He shook my hands and said that he loves the promos while his daughter loves the song ‘Maula’. Moreover, he added that Sunny Leone was a great casting coup but the film has already gone beyond that! When a man like him who is so basic makes a comment like that, I think that’s a compliment to receive with a certain degree of pride.

FS: How easy or difficult was it for you to instruct your actors, reduce their inhibitions and understand their feelings?

PB: It was easy for me because I’ve been in front of the camera so I didn’t face any stumbling block there. But I feel Randeep especially made my life very easy because he’s extremely open about trying out a scene in 500 different ways, whether it’s a love scene or dramatic or any other scene. Log hamesha iss cheez pe harp karte hai ki jab koi sensuous scene hota hai, tab heroine ki feelings kya thi ya heroine ne kitni boundaries push ki ya usna kitna expose kiya tha. Nobody asks the man ki aapne kya mehsoos kiya! We assume that the hero will be okay kissing on screen and not ask him whether he’s feeling vulnerable taking his shirt off or feeling awkward lying on a bed with somebody only covered with a sheet. Since men are not always in that position, they feel more vulnerable. So it’s very easy to say ‘how lucky Randeep Hooda is kissing Sunny Leone’ and the other way round for women! But nobody asks the man as to how awkward did they feel and that’s unfair. I was very glad that all 3 actors were comfortable with their bodies. Sunny learnt that sensuality is not something when you are in a position with someone physically. Also, it’s not just bare-ing yourself physically. Camera is something you have to be emotionally naked in front of it and that is the mainstay of a sincere performance. And I feel that when they are watching your first movie, they are anyways very generous with you and allow a lot of kind of rough edges. But what you have in your first film which you’ll never have in the same degree again is a burning sincerity which you can’t replicate again. So, everytime when I felt that she was acting from a position which became kind of standard, I would push her to make sure that she reached into herself and thereby pushed herself to respond because Isna is on the edge because a lot is happening to her. She’s overawed, vulnerable and trying to grapple. Hence, it’s a character that needs someone who’s got a lot of experience to display to the degree that it could have been pushed to. Hence, it was a complex character and not an easy part.

"Dying To See Ek Tha Tiger": Pooja Bhatt

FS: The film is all set to release on August 3. And the promotions haven’t been much and even Sunny Leone is not seen so far…

PB: I didn’t want to start promotions until I got the censor certificate in my hand. 3rd August was the release date that we had but I was very clear that if censor had butchered my film, I would have not released the film on that date and would have gone ahead. And then if I would have started my dialogue promos, I would have to keep my campaign going on for those many weeks more. ‘Jism 2’ is a modest-budget film. It might seem like a big film for whatever reasons but I am not the one who has got 20-30 crore media spend. The day I got the certificate in my hand, we broke the promo the next day on the internet. It was out to all the channels on Friday, it was broken on Monday, it was all over and we had saturated the market now. So by Saturday, July 28, my campaign is going to peak which is perfectly in time for August 3 because people nowadays have short attention spans. And let’s be honest, ‘Jism 2’ has been spoken about necessarily and unnecessarily ever since it has been launched. So we have got our share of publicity, thank you very much everybody! So I would now want the right stuff to come out at the right time because you’ve got other films releasing like ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ for instance…

FS: Looking forward to it?

PB: I am most certainly because it’s shot in Cuba, one of my dream destinations and Kabir (Khan) always picks some magical location. So I am dying to see that. Also, I am a production designer myself. For me, where the film set is also important because that is a character in itself. Sri Lanka is a character in ‘Jism 2’.

FS: The way you shot ‘Kajraare’ was beautiful…

PB: Even I feel the same but unfortunately, nobody saw the film as it didn’t release (laughs). But to be fair, Jordan looked immaculate and I would love to do it all over again

FS: The songs were immensely popular…

PB: Yes they were and looked like a million bucks.

FS: You have said that you would love to do ‘Jism 3’ in 3D and would love to have Emraan Hashmi in it…

PB: I’ll be launching ‘Jism 3’ when I release ‘Jism 2’. I plan to make and release it in 2013. I have not even approached anybody, let alone Emraan. But the name that came to me was Emraan for the simple reason that I have not worked with him so far as a director or a producer. We don’t take each other for granted in our family and show any interest beyond a point in working with each other unless the product is worthy enough. I don’t even know whether he’s interested in doing anything more in brand ‘Jism’ or ‘Murder’ but I would like to look at the idea of casting him in one of the roles because the stakes have gotten bigger. We had two people in ‘Jism’, we have three in ‘Jism 2’ and we are going to have four in ‘Jism 3’!

FS: You have also said that you would like to make one ‘Jism’ film every year…

PB: I would like to because I believe that as long as people fall in love, their hearts are going to be broken and we’ll have great stories to portray on the screen. Also, I believe in making films that are not dumbed down and deal with human emotions as we feel and experience them in the real world and not in Hindi film isolated reality that most films unfortunately get saturated in.

FS: You’ve been a part of a film like ‘Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin’, an ultimate romantic film. So when will you have plans of remaking it?

PB: I don’t have plans of remaking ‘Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin’, but I have dreams of doing so! There’s a difference between the two. I think if ‘Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin’ is to be remade in today’s age, Ranbir Kapoor will be more than a worthy successor to Aamir Khan. He would bring to the character the same effortlessness, the same amount of charm and a certain amount of intelligent humour. And I think that Alia (Bhatt) is a better version of me and that Alia-Ranbir would be a delightful combination. However, ‘Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin’ is not an easy act to follow.

FS: Maybe a sequel to it, with new actors…

PB: Who knows? If Alia and Ranbir are listening and so is my father because he’ll have to write it!

FS: You’ve also said that you’ll like to act once again once your production comes out with a hit…

PB: Well, I have never stopped acting but then as you said, you had to pin me down for an interview because in order to do so, I had to at least attempt to open up my hair and look slightly more presentable than I am right now. But to act, you need to focus on yourself a little bit because you owe that to your maker and audience. My focus has been on my films and actors. I’ve been waiting for that one elusive hit. I’ve won National awards, got critical acclaim. I want my gratification of knowing that what I have directed has benefited everybody in the food chain since that would allow me to make my next choices with a lot more élan and freedom. At this point, I’ve nothing to lose and that’s when you are in the best position. We made ‘Jism 2’ on a budget of Rs 7 crore, we sold it overseas and in India for Rs 15 crore. That in itself is quite ground breaking. You have a film like this in a certain budget and is not compromised on payscales, technical stuff etc. Everybody is going gaga about digital but no, I would like to make my film in slightly old fashion style. Bombay territory is sold for a record price of Rs. 8.28 crores. That gives you your numbers itself. Obviously, this is the cost of my film without P&A. We did a wonderful campaign, our hoardings have already gone up. My first hoarding was ironically at the same spot where the ‘Jism’ first hoarding was put up, at Marine Drive. We’re hitting everywhere. You’ll see me, the film as well as Sunny all over the place as well! I am certain she’s dying to come back and hear the applause, not through the internet or tweet but directly.

FS: You claim that you intend to make films that are anything but safe…

PB: Yes. I want to be the outsider. I want to live my life on that edge. I am not interested in being an insider. I am going to finish this movie, run away to my farm, immerse myself under the waterfall, travel the world, plant trees and listen to music that makes me cut off from this world. And then I’ll find a new location to fall in love with and bring that forward to the audience like a gift. They are free to reject it but I have to give them what I love. I can’t gift them what you are telling me that I shall tell them me to love. Nor can I give them what the market is dictating to me. ‘Jism 2’ like ‘Jism’ will be a game changer.

FS: You also plan to make a film on Muntazar al-Zaidi, who threw a shoe on US President George Bush…

PB: Yes and it was a film that we wanted to target at an international audience. The cast and director would be primarily from there (Iraq) and make it in a language with subtitles for a market wherever it went to. But no one wants to back it. Everybody is frightened of taking on America, especially in the world of entertainment and a film on an unknown Iraqi journalist throwing a shoe on, as my father says, ‘Killer Bush’, is something that the average studio is not going to fund and give it a worthy release. But we are working on it but the how’s, when’s and why’s is something that I can’t comment on right now.

FS: Recently, a movie had a dialogue that cinema is all about ‘Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment’. Your take?

PB: Entertainment is most certainly a part of my cinema as well but I disagree with the second part of line that they normally add to that line – ‘leave your brains at the door’! If you plan to leave your brain as well as soul at the door, then don’t watch my movies. I would like to engage with people or body of work be it book, art or film that makes my mind tick. I would like to believe that I make the kind of cinema that makes your mind tick as well!

FS: Fantastic! So that was PoojaBhatt in a wonderful interview with Bollywood Hungama. We patiently waited for this interview and we’ve been fully rewarded. Thank you very much for your time. We’re looking forward to ‘Jism 2’ and your future ventures. Personally, I am looking forward to your acting ventures.

PB: After this, I am going to run uphill at my farm, become svelte and then be in front of the camera (laughs)!

FS: Absolutely! Dabboo Ratnani photoshoot and everything…

PB: Dabboo Ratnani has covered up a lot of my sin. In fact, the best pictures he has clicked was when I was at my largest. And you have to conceal that and that’s when you become innovative because you don’t have the resources! And that’s what I do with my films as well!

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Chitrangda Singh along with the Aliens from Joker will be doing a special photoshoot for PETA tomorrow July 30 evening. The photoshoot will be undertaken by Atul Kasbekar.
The first look promo launch of Raaz 3 is scheduled to take place at a suburban multiplex in Bombay tomorrow night. Bipasha Basu and Emraan Hashmi will be present for the event.

Saif in a recen interview stated that he is doing a film with Natalie Portman. A lot of speculation started doing the rounds. Media received a press release late last night stating that it was a prank.
Here’s how Saif puts an end to his little prank with the media, “It was a joke, I am sorry", smiles Saif, "It's just that I am very annoyed with speculations on all the aspects of my life. If this goes on, I might just start making up stories like these to entertain myself. Hope people will understand that."
Also as per reports Natalie Portman's management threatened to sue Saif for his indiscretion in the media. I guess that's why the prompt response from Saif.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

"Don't angry me," said Akshay Kumar when he was repeatedly asked about Rajesh Khanna's last lady love Anita Advani who has reportedly asked for a share for herself in Rajesh Khanna's property. Akshay along with Sonakshi Sinha and Prabhudeva launched the DVD of their film 'Rowdy Rathore' at an event a short while back where the journalists persistently asked about Anita Advani. If news reports are to be believed then it was Akshay who had asked Anita not to get into the van that carried Mr Khanna's dead body to the crematorium.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Aatma is a horror film that stars Bipasha Basu in the lead along with Nawazuddin Siddiqui (of Gangs of Wasseypur 1and 2, Kahaani fame). It has commenced its first long schedule of 45 days to be shot at set built at Filmalaya studio in Mumbai. The project has completed a short shooting schedule earlier at Vashi, Mumbai. The film will also be shot in other locations in Maharasthra including Panchgani.

Directed by Suparn Verma who has also written the Story & Screenplay. The music has been given by Sameer Uddin. Cinematographer Sophie Winqvist with her team, from Sweden has been flown down especially to shoot the film.Sukant Panigrahy is doing the production design while the action director of the film is Jai Singh with editing done byHemal Kothari. .

Aatma is a horror film that stars Bipasha Basu in the lead along with Nawazuddin Siddiqui (of Gangs of Wasseypur 1and 2, Kahaani fame). It has commenced its first long schedule of 45 days to be shot at set built at Filmalaya studio in Mumbai. The project has completed a short shooting schedule earlier at Vashi, Mumbai. The film will also be shot in other locations in Maharasthra including Panchgani.

Directed by Suparn Verma who has also written the Story & Screenplay. The music has been given by Sameer Uddin. Cinematographer Sophie Winqvist with her team, from Sweden has been flown down especially to shoot the film. Sukant Panigrahy is doing the production design while the action director of the film is Jai Singh with editing done by Hemal Kothari. .

Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha and Prabhudeva will launch the DVD of Rowdy Rathore at an Rathore at an event in Bombay tomorrow July 28.
Shahid Kapoor and Boman Irani will be at an event to promote Dulux Paints on August 1 in Bombay.

A three DVD pack of 101 hit duets of Mohammad Rafi will be released on his 32nd death anniversary on July 31, 2012. This DVD pack features some of the finest duets of Rafi with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle like Tere husn ki kya tareef karoon (Leader) and Chup gaye saare nazaare (Do Raaste) to Yaar chulbula hai (Dil deke dekha) to Goriya Kahani Tera des re (Caravan). His songs with other female singers like Suraiya, Geeta Dutt, Sulakshna Pandit, Usha Mangeshkar and Usha Timothi are also part of this pack. A few of his cherished duets with Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, Manna Dey, Bhupinder and Narendra Chanchal are also featured in the DVD.
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A three DVD pack of 101 hit duets of Mohammad Rafi will be released on his 32nd death anniversary on July 31, 2012. This DVD pack features some of the finest duets of Rafi with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle like Tere husn ki kya tareef karoon (Leader) and Chup gaye saare nazaare (Do Raaste) to Yaar chulbula hai (Dil deke dekha) to Goriya Kahani Tera des re (Caravan). His songs with other female singers like Suraiya, Geeta Dutt, Sulakshna Pandit, Usha Mangeshkar and Usha Timothi are also part of this pack. A few of his cherished duets with Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, Manna Dey, Bhupinder and Narendra Chanchal are also featured in the DVD.

"You never knocked me down, you could never knock me down," said Abhishek Bachchan in an interview a short while back quoting from 'Raging Bull'. I had a long chat with Abhishek on the success of Bol Bachchan and how it feels to ride the crest of Box Office success.
Abhishek spoke on how he maintains his sense of humour, why he is not averse to criticism and how he'd like to learn from it constructively. He says its not the films that fail, it is the budgets that go wrong.
Aamir has already begun his shooting for Dhoom 3. Abhishek, Uday and Aamir have been doing joint readings. They are heading to Chicago in USA in the first week of August for the shooting to commence. Farah had narrated the script of Happy New Year to Abhishek a long time back but he hasn't been approached in the recent times for the film. Yes, he'd love to work with Shahrukh whom he considers a "dear friend" if the role is offered and if all goes well with the script. His game plan is to do one film at a time.
It is a long interview. There is a lot more in the interview which I wouldn't wish to reveal here. And yes he has lost weight since the Bol Bachchan interview that we did in late June.
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Thursday, July 26, 2012

"Mumbai Daily ki associate editor ho tum. Film stars ki friendship tumse nahin, tumhaari position se hai," says Kareena Kapoor in the first look poster of Heroine. Well, I totally agree with this statement. Stars like star-struck journos who'd write or say nice nice stuff about them. Many a times, all it takes is a free flow of liqour and good food for journos to pour heartfelt niceties. A few kind words from a star and he/she becomes epitome of kindness. There's a famous dialogue...."Ek ladka aur ek ladki kabhi dost nahin hote", on the same note, a film star or a journo or for that matter, a politician (or any other profession) should never be 'friends' with the media. The objectivity gets diluted the moment 'emotions' take over.

Film stars are at their friendliest best whenever their film is up for release. They and their publicists go into hiding whenever they don't wish to talk (it is not the norm with everyone but mostly this is how it pans out). Recently the publicist of a two film old star (known for his philandering ways) approached me, stating that he wants to thank his fans in our interview for wishing him on his birthday and that he doesn't want to talk about anything else. I politely told the publicist that when the star is willing to talk in general, we'll do the interview as we don't do stuff as per a star's whims and fancies (his second film didn't work and he had thanked me profusely when we did his interview before he became a 'star' but things 'change' and how).

Yes film stars and film people in general try-n-'befriend' journos because of their 'position' and 'reach' as the Heroine promo states. There have been occasions when stars have approached us for clearing out rumours about their crumbling marriages or nasty lobbying against them within the film industry. But if we approach them for a byte on independence day, they become conveniently 'busy' (even though they are seen anywhere and everywhere). Many a times, stars crib about the rumours with regards to their personal life. But the fact is that many a times stars themselves spread rumours about their affairs and 'relationships' just to remain in news or it is part of the publicity plan for an upcoming film. Yes, accurate reporting is unheard of, many a times quotes are carelessly distorted to give a meaning completely different from what it is meant to be and then there are vested interests within the publicity machinery of a star that plants stories (based on 'sources') about rival camps.

Whenever I am invited for the success bash of a film or any random parties, I always politely decline. If you are part of their parties, they'll expect you to be of some 'use' later and that's not how it should be. I don't drink alcohol and I prefer eating food at home after an event (I rarely go for events anyways). Some stars are genuinely respectful and value integrity and they earn automatic respect. Mr Bachchan sent a thank you note duly signed by him after the success of 'Paa'. His letter is the pride of my office wall.

I've always maintained that I don't want to be 'friends' with a star. I'd be happy if they respect me and know that if I am asking tough questions in my interviews then it is not coming from a personal space but it is based on the questions that the audience wants to ask. There have been occasions when I am expected to ask questions only about the 'subject' that the star and his team wants to talk about. I find it boring but I always take my chances and try and ask a few topical questions as well that the audience may be interested in.

Then there are journos who are 'struggling' in the film industry and they are a pitiable lot for they have 'use me' written all over them. They can only say good things, ask all the 'right' questions and denounce the industry folks of their godfather's rival camp hoping to get rewarded some day.

I am sure Heroine promo will trigger a debate on how the stars detest the media and yet use them as per their convenience. Film journalism on its part needs to iron out their follies. The fact is there are a huge number of people who follow film based content and there's no harm if there's more transparency, accuracy, emphasis-on-facts and 'distance'.
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Amitabh Bachchan will be one of the Olympic torchbearers in London today July 26 in Southwark at 10:30 am. The 32.7 mile relay has legendary personalities like Lawrence Dallaglio, Lewis Moody, Jim Anderson, Phil Packer, Darren Fitzpatrick and Tom Davis.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Shahrukh Khan will be the special guest at the music launch and the third teaser poster of Shirin Farhad Ki To Nikal Padi at a hotél in Bombay tomorrow July 24 afternoon. Farah Khan, Sanjay Bhansali and Boman Irani will also be present. It will be one 'eventful' event to watch out for sure.

Uday Chopra will be launching Yomics at another event tomorrow where Abhishek Bachchan will be present as well.
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Friday, July 20, 2012

The first look promo launch of 'Heroine' was supposed to happen tomorrow July 21 in Bombay but since tomorrow is the Chautha of Mr Rajesh Khanna, the promo launch has been postponed to July 25. This is a confirmed news.
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The Chautha ceremony of Rajesh Khanna will be held in a five star hotel in Bombay tomorrow evening. The media won't be allowed to cover it. Still and video cameras can take the visuals of the celebrities from a certain point in the premises but no bytes will be allowed.

Meanwhile Khanna's bungalow Aashirwad is under conflict as his live in partner of twilight years Anita Advani has sent a legal notice to the Khanna clan so that she won't be evicted from Aashirwad. There are rumours that Khanna wanted his bungalow to be turned into a museum. But the way things are heading, a bitter battle seems imminent.
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Thursday, July 19, 2012

The theatrical trailer of Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha starrer Son of Sardar will be attached with Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight Rises' that is releasing tomorrow July 20. The promo can be watched exclusively from midnight today on Bollywood Hungama.
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Rajesh Khanna's funeral witnessed a sea of fans overflowing in abundance. People accompanied Mr Khanna's dead body from his residence today morning around 10 am. Dimple Kapadia, Rinke Khanna, Akshay Kumar and his son Aarav were present in the van that carried the dead body. Eye witness accounts have reported that there was lathicharge by police to disperse the massive crowd. My colleague Zoheb who was present at the funeral site told me that a woman fell down in the rain and a few men actually tried to pull at her Sari. There are reports that more such incidents happened when women faced discomfort because of the commotion and some men tried to take advantage of the situation.

The administration had anticipated the big congregation of people and had made arrangements but it seems even they were caught napping. People were all over the place, on the road, on the overbridge etc. No autorickshaws and taxis are plying in the area. In fact Zoheb had to walk his way to the location. Video and still cameramen followed the van carrying Mr Khanna's dead body on their motor cycles. Obviously Mr Khanna was a big star but the charm of watching big stars like Akshay Kumar etc must have played the part in the huge turnout.
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The cremation of Rajesh Khanna will be done in Vile Parle, Bombay by Aarav, son of Akshay Kumar (married to Twinkle Khanna) in a short while from now. It has been raining since morning but there's a deluge of fans following the open van carrying his dead body. There are reports that his bungalow Aashirwad will be converted into a Museum.

The newspapers and news channels are flooded with news reports about Rajesh Khanna. I am dismayed by some personal barbs on Mr Khanna. Discussing personal life of anyone after his death in a derogatory manner is cheap and slanderous.

It is amazing that the man had a huge volume of successful films and such a marvelous repertoire of wonderful songs. There are reports that his last words were...."Time ho gaya...Pack Up". Rest in peace sir.
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Nawazuddin Siddiqui walked in the room. Simple, polite and self assuming. This was very unlike the ruthless (and the promos of GOW 2 are screaming the title of 'Iconic') Faisal Khan or eerily focussed Inspector Khan of Kahani. He had seen my interview with Huma Qureshi and seemed excited. I on the other hand had seen the GOW 2 promo on the loop today and was awestruck.

Nawaz has taken training from National School of Drama and has been living in Bombay for the last ten years. His first film was Aamir's Sarfarosh where he had a 50 second role. He also had a very small role in Munnabhai MBBS. He also acted in Ad films where he stood in the crowd and the shoot coordinators took their cut from his small pay packet. He got down from an auto rickshaw yesterday (he doesn't own a car or a house yet) and pointed towards the poster of GOW 2. The autorickshawalla didn't recognise him.

Nawazuddin is shown to be a Mr Bachchan fan in GOW. He has worked with him in Shoebite but unfortunately the film hasn't released yet. He has an important role in Talaash and he is looking forward to it.

I interview many celebrities but for the very first time I was moved beyond description. I won't disclose anything further but I think the interview will have some really wonderful moments about the journey of an Actor and his quest to search for his 'wajood'.
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"Gangs of Wasseypur part 2 is ten times more entertaining than Gangs of Wasseypur part 1," said Anurag Kashyap in an interview with me a short while back. Anurag says he feels a sense of relief with the success of GOW part 1. There is a big plan to release both the parts of Gangs Of Wasseypur internationally. Anurag says that they've received whopping offers for MG (Minimum Guarantee) for the international version.

Anurag feels happy with the recognition for actors like Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Manoj Bajpayee, Jameel Khan. Piyush Mishra. He says that Bollywood continues to play an intrinsic role as the backdrop for part 2. What does he have to say about Mr Bachchan and the differences that they've had in the past? (Mr Bachchan praised part 1 lavishly).

Anurag expressed disappointment with media. "Journalists are more keen on the headlines than presenting the right picture," he says. Anurag confirmed that he has written the additional dialogues for Talaash. A newspaper claimed that Anurag was upset with Aamir for turning down Bombay Velvet. Any truth in that? When is Bombay Velvet starting? Anurag once said that he won't work with stars and rather work with newcomers. Now he is working with Ranbir Kapoor. What are his thoughts on this shift?
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Monday, July 16, 2012

The first look promos of Heroine and Son of Sardar will be launched on July 20.

Sarah Jane Dias and Neha Sharma will be going for a cab drive tomorrow afternoon in Bombay.

Farah Khan and Boman Irani launched a poster of their film Shirin Farhad Ki To Nikal Padi at an event in Bombay today. Now this is one film I am looking forward to. Big time.

I interviewed Mahesh Bhatt today. Bhatt Sahab gave his viewpoint on the Black Money issue in Bollywood. Will the imposition of service tax further add to the problem? The video will be live tomorrow morning.

It is Katrina Kaif's birthday today. Katrina has three big films lined up...Ek Tha Tiger, Yash Chopra's directorial venture and Dhoom 3 with Salman, Shahrukh and Aamir respectively. So, which Khan amongst the three will look best with Katrina? Which is your favourite film of Katrina?
Katrina's interviews have always generated a tremendous response from all across the world. Let me share a couple of her interviews that have generated a great response.
"There's something about Katrina"
This interview with Katrina, Ali and Imran has generated 2, 91, 631 video views on Hungama YouTube channel so far

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Kareena Kapoor will star opposite Imran Khan in Dharma Productions' film to be directed by Punit Malhotra (I Hate Luv Storys). This is a confirmed news as per an official press release.
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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Monday, July 9, 2012

Ajay Devgn did a photoshoot for Himmatwala at Mahboob Studio in Bombay today. The photoshoot was done by ace photographer Avinash Gowariker. Director Sajid Khan was at the helm of affairs.
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